Behind The Hood: The Welding Journey

About Behind The Hood: The Welding Journey

Behind The Hood is a podcast that will help welders gain the confidence needed to forge a successful career. This podcast will feature interviews with welding experts, tips and advice in the welding industry, and inspiring stories from welders who have overcome challenges to find success. We hope that this podcast will provide you with the motivation and information you need to pursue your dreams and achieve your goals. Thank you for listening, and we look forward to sharing the welding journey with you!

Publisher

Kentucky Welding Institute

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Aug 2022

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

91 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   He Left a $23/Hour Fab Shop to Learn Titanium Welding

   Kevin was making $23 an hour in a fab shop—but he knew he wanted more out of welding. After starting welding in high school, Kevin decided to take his skills further and came to Kentucky Welding Institute. Now he’s training with specialty alloys like titanium, super duplex, and nickel while preparing for the next step in his welding career. In this student interview, Kevin talks about: How he got started welding in high school Why he left the fab shop Why his friends convinced him to check out KWI Training with titanium, super duplex, nickel, and other alloys Taking advantage of extra welding time His plans after graduation Why he believes there is always more to learn in welding If you’re considering welding school, looking at welding as a career, or wondering what training at Kentucky Welding Institute looks like, this is Kevin’s experience. Learn more about Kentucky Welding Institute and schedule a tour at kwi.us. #Welding #WeldingSchool #Welder #PipeWelding #KentuckyWeldingInstitute

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   20-Year-Old Pipe Welder’s FIRST Job After Welding School

   KWI graduate Clayton Waymire is just 20 years old and working his first job in the welding industry, earning $33 an hour plus $120 a day in per diem while gaining real-world experience as a pipe welder. Clayton graduated from Kentucky Welding Institute on December 17 and started his first welding job January 6. Now he’s working in Apple Grove, West Virginia, on an industrial pipe welding job where he is putting his welding school training to work in the field. In this KWI graduate testimonial, Clayton gives an inside look at what life is really like for a young pipe welder starting a career in the skilled trades. He talks about his welder pay, work schedule, per diem, travel expenses, welding conditions, pipe fitting, rigging, signaling, investing his income, and what it took to land his first welding job. Clayton is currently earning $33/hour + $120/day per diem and working approximately 68 hours per week. He explains how overtime and per diem affect his weekly income and why controlling expenses is important when working a traveling welding job. You’ll also see what industrial pipe welding looks like on an actual jobsite. Clayton discusses welding pipe and socket welds, working in difficult positions, mirror welding, welding with a hard hat and harness, rigging, signaling, fitting pipe, and learning from experienced tradesmen. His first welding job hasn’t just been about making money. It has been about continuing to build his skills after welding school and learning how to become a better pipe welder in real jobsite conditions. Clayton also shares how he keeps his expenses low as a travel welder. Instead of spending more on hotels or an Airbnb, he bought a camper and found a campground for $500 a month—allowing him to keep more of the money he earns on the road. He’s also investing 20% of his weekly income into a Roth IRA and mutual fund while saving toward his long-term goal of buying land, purchasing farm equipment, and eventually building a farming operation of his own. But Clayton’s path into a welding career wasn’t easy. Five years ago, his high school told him there wasn’t room for him in its welding program. Clayton and his family made the decision to transfer schools so he could pursue welding. That decision eventually led him to Kentucky Welding Institute and then into his first professional pipe welding job. Even after welding school, the road wasn’t perfect. Clayton failed his first weld test after traveling more than five hours for the opportunity. With only about $150 left in his checking account, he took another welding test, passed, and started the job that launched his career. His advice for students considering welding school or a career in pipe welding is simple: take advantage of the training you’re given. “KWI will prepare you if you let them prepare you.” Clayton encourages welding students to practice more than just comfortable booth welds. Learn to mirror weld. Practice with your hard hat. Learn rigging and signaling. Network with other welders. Get comfortable being uncomfortable so your first welding job isn’t the first time you experience real jobsite conditions. If you’re researching welding schools, pipe welding school, welding jobs, pipe welder pay, welding careers, travel welding, skilled trades careers, or what to expect after welding school, Clayton’s story gives you a firsthand look at the transition from welding student to working pipe welder. Learn more about Kentucky Welding Institute and training for a career in pipe welding. #Welding #PipeWelding #WeldingSchool #PipeWelder #KentuckyWeldingInstitute

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   From Drilling to Welding

   Jay came to Kentucky Welding Institute from Butte, Montana after years of working on the road in underground and surface drilling. Before ever starting at KWI, he had already worked across Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, and other parts of the western United States. He started as a drilling helper, worked his way into drilling, and eventually found himself welding whenever equipment broke or needed repaired. That interest in welding eventually became strong enough for him to leave a solid career path and head across the country to Kentucky. In this conversation, Bobby and Jay talk about: • Growing up in Butte, Montana • Working underground in gold and mineral exploration • Life on the road with a truck and camper • Why he left drilling for welding • How he found KWI by searching for a Christian welding school • His goals for KWI and the welding industry • Why he eventually wants to own his own business Jay’s goal coming into KWI is simple: learn as much as possible, stay humble, ask questions, and figure out where welding can take him. Learn more about Kentucky Welding Institute and our Certified Pipe Welder program at KentuckyWeldingInstitute.com. #Welding #WeldingSchool #TradeSchool #PipeWelding #KWI

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

81

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

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